Frederick Cook claimed to reach the North Pole in 1908, which would make him the first man to do so. And while some believed him, not enough did. You’re listening to a 1910 recording of….Robert F. Peary. History books credit him with the Pole’s discovery in 1909. So why the uncertainty?

The entire north polar region is sea, covered by floating ice, which, when you factor in wind and ocean currents, makes a permanent marking impossible.

While the honor currently belongs to Peary, experts are divided as to whether Cook, or neither, reached the pole. That’s right, some believe both expeditions were off base. Read more.